Lone Star Struck

For as long as I could remember, Thanksgiving Day has always meant one thing to me; family, good food, and Dallas Cowboys football.

For almost a decade, envious team owners have bemoaned the fact that the Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Lions play at home each Thanksgiving Day. They raise the issue at every owners meeting, but nobody has ever paid any real attention to their gripes, not even the NFL commissioner, that is until Roger Goodell became commissioner.

Whether you’re a Cowboys fan or not, I think most fans would agree that watching the Cowboys at home each Thanksgiving, has become an American tradition. It’s become part of the fabric of the day. Like a warm blanket on a cold day, there’s some comfort to be found in maintaining some of these holiday traditions. Especially Thanksgiving, which is meshed with so many family memories that are intertwined with a backdrop of Cowboys football.

In recent years, the NFL has shown very little love for any of the age old traditions of the game.

With Roger Goodell as NFL commissioner, nothing is sacred anymore.

The Star-Telegram, quotes Goodell on the subject in a recent article by Charean Williams.

The Dallas Cowboys have been a fixture on Thanksgiving Day since 1966. The Detroit Lions have hosted the annual holiday game even longer, since 1934. But there is no guarantee either team will have a Thanksgiving Day game in 2010.

“I attended that [Thanksgiving] game [in Detroit] a little over a year ago,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in his state-of-the-league news conference Friday. “I understand it’s a great tradition in Detroit and Dallas. [Moving the game around] is something that our owners have raised from time to time. It will not change for this season. As to whether ownership feels the same, we will discuss it as we get later in the year. We certainly will raise it.”

Hopefully, common sense will prevail, and the NFL will continue to support one of it’s last remaining traditions. However, it worries me that Goodell would actually create a forum in the near future for sharing the game with different teams. It pains me to know that our Thanksgiving Classic will be put to an up and down vote at the next owners meeting.

In past meetings, a few bitter owners were allowed to interrupt the meeting, raise the issue, say their piece, and move on to the next topic on the agenda. However, when the commissioner himself makes it a part of the actual agenda, then it makes me believe that the 2009 Thanksgiving Day Cowboys game, may be the last one we see for a long, long time.

Wow, it’s finally Friday. What a week it’s been for me. Bad weather, icy roads, and embarrassing rap songs. Well, thankfully, the sun has come out and hopefully everything has dried up.

The Super Bowl is in two days and I don’t even feel in the mood to watch football. Usually, by the time ‘Super Sunday’ comes around I’ve gotten over whatever happened to my team that kept them from being in the big game. Plus, it’s always near my birthday so there are two reasons to have a party.

I suppose I would like to see the Cardinals win. Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner deserve to take home a ring. But, the Steelers are extremely tough and I would be surprised if the Cardinals offense could overpower the Steelers defense.

I am definitely not happy that the Steelers will most likely take home a 6th trophy before the Cowboys. I guess if there is any good we can take from a Steelers win it would be motivation. A swift slap in the face that we need to get our stuff together and realize what the star stands for. Play like a team, win like champions.

But don’t get me wrong, I would much rather the Cardinals steal the show.

So I probably won’t have a Super Bowl blowout at my place, but I will have the game on. Plus, Bruce Springsteen will make it worth watching, at least through halftime.

The 2009 season presents two strong options at the cornerback position for the Dallas Cowboys. 

Scenario one would be to move the aging Anthony Henry to free safety (a position he tinkered with in college), move Ken “The Hammer” Hamlin back to his natural position at strong safety and cut Roy “Superman” Williams. This would allow Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick to move up to the #2 and nickel positions respectively. It would also allow us to put off drafting a safety high in the draft, allowing us to concentrate on defensive end/nose tackle and middle linebacker. This scenario would also have us signing a lower priced veteran free agent as well as drafting another corner in the later rounds. Alan Ball is also still on the payroll, so I guess you could say he’s still in the mix. In reality, his days are numbered. 

Scenario two would have Henry staying at corner and competing for a starting job. This would force us to either keep Roy Williams and Ken Hamlin where they are, or draft a safety high and cut Williams. I don’t like this for a couple of reasons. I don’t see Henry, who is paid like a starter, losing his starting job and being o.k. with it. A demotion instead of a chance to start at another position is a kick in the face to a veteran Cowboy. Also, this would postpone our other starting needs another round in the draft. 

My list of pre-free agency needs in order with Henry moving to free safety are as follows: 

  1. Starting Right Defensive End or Nose Tackle
  2. Starting Weak Inside Linebacker
  3. Backup Free Safety
  4. Backup Nose Tackle or Right Defensive End
  5. Backup Corner Back
  6. Backup Quarterback
  7. Backup Center
  8. Backup Guard
  9. Backup Offensive Tackle 
10. Backup Outside Linebacker  

 

The list changes, in my opinion, for the worse if Henry is kept at corner. It would also all but force you to move Ratliff to defensive end because of a lack of starting 3-4 defensive end depth.
 
  1. Starting Safety
  2. Starting Nose Tackle (There are no starting defensive ends at this point. Tyson Jackson would represent the bottom of that list and he’s long gone at this point.)
  3. Starting Weak Inside Linebacker
  4. Backup safety
  5. Backup Nose Tackle
  6. Backup Corner Back
  7. Backup Quarterback
  8. Backup Center
  9. Backup Guard 
10. Backup Offensive Tackle
 
As you can see, getting three true starters in a draft is a lot harder to do than trying to get two, especially if your first pick is at 51. It would move our backup draft positions down a round and limit our options on the d-line as well. 

Cutting Roy Williams (the safety) is an expected move. Freeing up his salary would allow us to use some of that money to sign a veteran low priced cornerback. Here is a (I believe) complete list of free agent cornerbacks in ‘09: 
 

Nnamdi Asomugha    UFA Raiders

Ron Bartell        UFA Rams

Fakhir Brown       UFA Rams

Ralph Brown        UFA Cardinals

Fernando Bryant    UFA Steelers

Phillip Buchanon   UFA Buccaneers

Jarrett Bush       RFA Packers

Chris Carr         UFA Titans

Ahmad Carroll      UFA Jets

Jason Craft        UFA Rams

Travis Daniels     UFA Browns

Kevin Dockery      RFA Giants

Demarcus Faggins   UFA Texans

Jamar Fletcher     UFA Bengals

Domonique Foxworth UFA Falcons

Chris Gamble       UFA Panthers

Aaron Glenn        UFA Saints

André Goodman      UFA Dolphins

Cletis Gordon      RFA Chargers

Charles Gordon     RFA Vikings

Eric Green         UFA Cardinals

Jabari Greer       UFA Bills

DeAngelo Hall      UFA Redskins

Joselio Hanson     UFA Eagles

Kelvin Hayden      UFA Colts

Reynaldo Hill      UFA Titans

Daven Holly        UFA Browns

Corey Ivy          UFA Ravens

William James      UFA Jaguars

Chris Johnson      UFA Raiders

Eric King          UFA Titans

Ty Law             UFA Jets

Omare Lowe         UFA Jaguars

Anthony Madison    RFA Steelers

Ricky Manning      UFA Rams

Derrick Martin     RFA Ravens

Bryant McFadden    UFA Steelers

R.W. McQuarters    UFA Giants

Deltha O’Neal      UFA Patriots

Evan Oglesby       RFA Ravens

Dimitri Patterson  RFA Chiefs

Karl Paymah        UFA Broncos

Hank Poteat        UFA Jets

Keiwan Ratliff     UFA Colts

Dunta Robinson     UFA Texans

Allen Rossum       UFA 49ers

Lewis Sanders      UFA Patriots

Benny Sapp         UFA Vikings

Scott Starks       UFA Jaguars

Donald Strickland  UFA 49ers

Leigh Torrence     RFA Saints

Michael Waddell    UFA Raiders

Jason Webster      UFA Patriots

Corey Webster      UFA Giants

Jimmy Williams     UFA Texans

Stanley Wilson     UFA Lions

 
This list provides the Cowboys with plenty of low cost options in free agency.
 
In the draft, assuming we are drafting for depth, (around Round 5 pick #148 or #158) here are a list of possible candidates:
 
Morgan Trent, Michigan
Height: 6-1. Weight: 188.
Projected 40 Time: 4.47.
Projected Round (2009): 4
 
Joe Burnett, Central Florida
Height: 5-11. Weight: 184.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round: 4-5
 
Kevin Barnes, Maryland
Height: 6-1. Weight: 188.
Projected 40 Time: 4.43.
Projected Round (2009): 4-5
 
Cary Harris, USC
Height: 6-0. Weight: 184.
Projected 40 Time: 4.47.
Projected Round (2009): 5.
 
Glover Quin, New Mexico
Height: 6-0. Weight: 200.
Projected 40 Time: 4.50.
Projected Round (2009): 5-6
 
Londen Fryar, Western Michigan
Height: 5-11. Weight: 192.
Projected 40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round (2009): 6
 
DeAngelo Willingham, Tennessee
Height: 6-0. Weight: 200.
Projected 40 Time: 4.48.
Projected Round (2009): 6 
 
List and Info from WalterFootball.com
 
My favorite, because of competition level and likelihood of being available, is Cary Harris. 

I hope this gives everyone a clearer view of our situation at cornerback heading into the 2009 offseason.
 
Next up: Quarterback

As you may have heard already, Dan Reeves is close to becoming a consultant for the Dallas Cowboys, whatever that means.

Reeves has been in retirement since he last coached the Atlanta Falcons in 2003.

The Dallas Cowboys website has a nice snapshot of his ties to the organization.

He played running back in Dallas for seven seasons (1965-72) and started coaching in 1972 as an offensive assistant to Tom Landry. In 1981, he became the NFL’s youngest head coach and eventually appeared in four Super Bowls – three with the Denver Broncos and one with the Atlanta Falcons.

Reeves is the perfect antidote for what is ailing the Cowboys right now. He is the polar opposite of current head coach Wade Phillips. He demands a strong work ethic from all of his players, and is not one that would tolerate the nonsense that has permeated throughout the Cowboys locker room in the last 18 months.

The Dallas Morning News had some great quotes from Dan Reeves, that will really make you appreciate what Dan Reeves could mean to our team.

Regarding the side show atmosphere this past season.

“They had an awful lot of distractions – things that you don’t need to have with a football team, the T.O.s, the Pacman Jones instances. You say, well, that doesn’t really bother us. But it really does, because that’s the focus. Everybody has to answer those questions, and it takes away from the time that you could spend doing something that’s productive.”

Regarding team chemistry. (Which Jerry Jones called overrated last month.)

“I think you’ve got to have people with great character first, people who are unselfish, people who can fit into an environment of a football team. If you’ve got players that all they’re thinking about is themselves – how many catches they have or how many pass can they throw or how many runs they’re going to have – they’re not worried about the bottom line, which is winning football games.”

He even gave his thoughts on character.

“As much as you look for the physical things, they’re easy to find. The key is trying to look inside and see what makes a young man tick. Is he a team player? Can you build chemistry around people?  Yeah, they won’t be a problem when you’re winning, but as soon as things turn south, you’ve got a problem on your hands. You want people to be there through the thick and the thin and not be frontrunners.”

I think it’s time to start the Wade Phillips countdown.

Hey Cowboy Fans!!

I hope this finds you all well! I would first like to start by saying: I am so excited to be back with you every Hump Day! I have adjusted my schedule so you will be seeing me around more often! I have missed having time to be here every week!

So, here we are at the foot of Super Bowl Sunday!! Whether your team is in the Super Bowl or not, it is still a big weekend for NFL fans. Do you have Super Bowl traditions? Plans? Super Bowl party games? My friends and I will be heading over to the House of Blues in Dallas to watch the game with D.Ware, R. White, T. Choice and T. Casillas. As always, I will take a ton of pictures. Video, too, if I can swing it! I will share it all here next week! If you’re interested in more information about this event, go to: www.DFWbigGAME.com

Since my friends and I are rooting for Arizona, our games revolve around Spittsburgh Squealers. We are not allowed to use their actual name OR ELSE!! HAHA!! This could be fun… especially around the 3rd quarter or so! LOL!

GO ARIZONA!!

On the 20th, my buddy, John and I went to Lunch with a Legend at Sullivan’s Steakhouse in Dallas. We managed to get excellent seats for the Michael Irvin Show with guest: Troy Aikman. The things Troy said that day made big news. I’m sure you have heard about it by now and you have an opinion! John and I had a lot of fun. We met some awesome people, had a great meal and got Mr. Irvin’s autograph! It was GREAT!! They do this Lunch with a Legend about once a month! If you’re in the metroplex or planning to visit soon, I highly recommend events like Lunch with a Legend!

As the complete NFL season comes to an end, I would like to give send some shouts to some peeps that helped make the season so memoriable and fun. Of course, this site, LoneStarStruck, is TOPS on my list!! I stop by every day for the latest articles and graphics!! To my friends at CNS: I love you guys… BIG TIME! You’re an absolute blast. I can hardly wait for the chance to hang with you again… luggage carts and all!! Of course, we may need more luggage carts in 2009! So many inside jokes… so little time!

MySpacers & Youtubers: You guys are so creative and fun. I cherish our friendship and hope all of you can make it to at least one event with us this coming season! To my local friends: I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to spend time with when our Boys are on the road. Thank you so much for the invitations and for all you did for CNS in December! Their party was a HUGE success because of people like you! Thank you! Last but certainly not least, my hubby (aka: my BFF): season after season, he deals with my crazy ways without complaint. I am looking forward to celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day… and many more!! Thank you for the awesome anniversary gift: season tickets at the new stadium in Arlington!

I hope you all enjoy the big game on Sunday! Next week, we will talk about our favorite commercials, the event at the House of Blues and much much more! Remember, you can send your pictures and stories to: fans@lonestarstruck.com

COWBOYS FOR LIFE!!

There are times, in life, when things aren’t going exactly as you would hope. In those times it is difficult to remain positive. Focusing on the negative just seems so much more natural. I know it sure is true in my case. I can’t speak for you of course. We all handle things in our own way. Some manage to look on the bright side no matter what. I, for one, could learn a lot from these people.

The one thing that 99.9% of visitors to this site have in common is obvious. Our love for the Dallas Cowboys.

Being the cynic that I am I tend to look at negative things in life and take for granted all the good things going on. Looking back on the 2008 season I’ve focused on lack of discipline, lack of leadership and a general sense of discord with the Cowboys organization as a whole. But there were some amazing moments this year. New faces emerged and old reliables continued to amaze us.

Felix Jones

How many of us saw this guy coming? His incredible burst and open-field speed left friend and foe alike wide-eyed with mouths hanging open in amazement. Not to mention you would be hard pressed to ever see him without a smile on his face. This young man has a very bright future ahead of him and I know we all look forward to watching him grow into the elite running back he obviously has the potential to be. I have no doubt that had he not gotten injured and subsequently put on injured reserve he would be the 2008 NFL Rookie of the Year.

DeMarcus Ware

Just when you think this guy couldn’t get any better what does he do? He gets better. His athleticism and sheer determination are something to behold. This man is a game changer. A difference maker. One of the greatest linebackers I’ve ever seen play the position and I’ve seen plenty. My personal choice for Defensive Player of the Year. I have no doubt he will be a Hall of Famer. First ballot. Bank on it. And he’s a Dallas Cowboy baby!

Jason Witten

Can you have a more solid teammate than Jason Witten? The greatest tight end in the game today, bar none. He’s always willing to give a little extra. Even with injuries that would have sidelined most players, Witten never relented, always stayed focused on the task at hand and never let anyone down. A warrior.

Tashard Choice

If you haven’t seen it yet check out the Georgia Tech locker room speech video of Choice posted on youtube. This video alone makes you well up with pride that he wears the blue and silver. His running style and ability to find the hole and to get extra yards where most players wouldn’t reminds me so much of Emmitt Smith. This guy is a legend in the making.

Bradie James

James is emerging as a true leader on the defensive unit. This diamond in the rough is only going to get better. I mean.. 116 tackles and 8 sacks at inside linebacker. Are you freaking kidding me? Should be a Pro Bowler. I have the upmost respect for Bradie James. He’s a great interview and has no problem telling it like it is.

These are just a few of what was arguably the largest collection of talent on any team in the NFL. Yeah, as a whole this team underachieved. But they will be alright. They will right the ship. Nothing comes easy in the NFL. Chalk 2008 up as a learning experience. What’s done is done. Time to move on.

On this day on January 28, 1996 the Dallas Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX. Number 5. They were not and are not done. Not by a long shot.

The destiny of the Dallas Cowboys is the same as it has always been. Greatness. Some things never change, my friend. I’ll never stop believing in this team. Many, many great men have donned the blue and silver. More have arrived and more will follow. No team does greatness-knows greatness-like the Dallas Cowboys. Glorious battles and future gold are just over the horizon. All we have to do now is wait for the clouds to break and follow the stars.

This afternoon The Dallas Morning News posted this article:

Dallas Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett released a song on YouTube that uses derogatory terms to describe African-Americans and gays.

Bennett, who is African-American, wears a white, autographed Cowboys helmet during the video, which lasts almost three minutes.

“I shouldn’t cuss that much,” Bennett said. “I’ve been listening to [rapper] Too Short too much.”

Dessie Brown Jr., Bennett’s friend, released the video to select media members and asked that they watch and also listen to a rap song on Bennett’s MySpace page. In an e-mail, Brown wrote, “excuse the language on both.”

“It is something that the organization is looking into and it is something that will be addressed,” Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple said.

Bennett’s agent, Kennard McGuire, declined comment.

I remember quite clearly Martellus Bennett’s attitude on Hard Knocks last summer. We should have known then what kind of person he was but then he went on to record 4 touchdowns and showed great talent on the field and somehow that erased the immaturity and poor attitude.

What have we gotten ourselves into?

And when can we expect to see some discipline on this team?

To begin with, let me just say that I love the Dallas Cowboys. I have an incredible passion for this team, it’s so much more to me than a game or money or fame. Some of my favorite moments in life have been spent watching the Cowboys with friends and family.

With that said, I am very disappointed in this organization. I have heard for years from the media and ‘haters’ how Jerry Jones is a sellout and would do anything for the money. 

 The latest headlines may have proven that point. Reality shows? Seriously?

Michael Irvin is producing a reality show similar to “Survivor” or “American Idol”. Terrell Owens has announced his reality show as well, that sounds similar to “The Bachelor” or “Rock of Love”. (Of course, I’m no reality show fanatic so don’t quote me on those comparisons.)

Irvin and Owens aren’t the first Cowboys to become stars on television. Emmitt Smith stole hearts (again) in 2006 when he went on “Dancing with the Stars” and took home the trophy. Deion Sanders has a reality show on Oxygen called “Primetime Love” that is filmed in his home with his family about their every day lives.

The difference is, Emmitt and Deion’s shows didn’t involve the current team. They weren’t exploiting the team or taking the focus away from the game.  

We just came off a season of disappointments that started off as a reality show on HBO. Okay, I admit I loved Hard Knocks as much as the next Cowboys fan. I can’t lie, it was awesome to see what goes on in training camp and preseason. But did it help the team? Did the team live up to its potential?

The Cowboys’ brand new billion dollar stadium will earn them more than enough attention this year. Do we really have to make a mockery of the game and be the center of attention every chance we get?

I think true Cowboys fans agree that the rest of the team (and management) could learn alot from the humility of Jason Witten, DeMarcus Ware and Marion Barber.

Oh and for the record, you can go ahead and call me a hypocrit because you know I will watch both new shows. But, unfortunately I’m not the owner or the general manager and the outcome of these decisions does not rest on my shoulders.

Keep in mind we also have comp. draft picks not yet accounted for in this mock.

Round 2 pick #19
Tyson Jackson DE LSU
immediately fills the void for a departed Chris Canty and re-solidifies our D-Line.

Round 3 pick #5
Jason Phillips ILB TCU
like Jackson, Phillips immediately fills a void and infuses youth into the starting linebacking core. Replaces Zach Thomas.

Round 4 pick #1
Sherrod Martin FS Troy State
replaces a banged-up Patrick Watkins and gives us insurance should the Anthony Henry safety experiment fail.

Round 4 pick #17
Alex Magee NT Purdue
infuses youth at the nose position and a solid back up for pro-bowler Jay Ratliff.

Round 5 pick #20
Cary Harris CB USC
as our two young corners from last year’s draft move up to the #2 and #3 positions because of Henry’s switch to free safety, the back end of the CB position needs a fresh body or two.

Round 5 #30
Graham Harrell QB Texas Tech
after a miserable Senior Bowl (4-13-1), the record breaking QB was exposed for the system quarterback he was. No worries in Big D though. He’ll have plenty of time to develop into a solid QB while running the practice team behind Romo and another veteran picked up in free agency.

Round 5 #30
Dallas Reynolds C BYU
a huge, reliable center that can play all positions on the O-Line.

Round 6 #24
Andrew Hartline OT Central Michigan
owner of the nation’s longest active starts streak (51 games) who is also an All-MAC first-teamer. Reynolds and Hartline replace Procter and Berger.

Round 7 #18
Ian Campbell OLB Kansas State
played DE in college but should transition well to a 3-4 OLB, a project with a nose for the quarterback.

Guess who has joined the reality show boom?

AP is reporting:

DALLAS — Terrell Owens hopes to score with a new cable reality show. 

The Dallas Cowboys’ controversial wide receiver will star in his own show on VH1 this summer, giving fans a look into his life off the field.

VH1 announced Monday that the series takes place in the offseason, and T.O.’s best friends and publicists — Monique Jackson and Kita Williams — will help him re-examine his personal life. The two will work as “matchmakers and therapists” for Owens.

Owens, who caught 69 passes for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, was prominently featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” that tracked the Cowboys in training camp last year.

Please wake me up when all of this is over. First Michael Irvin, now Terrell Owens? Can we not focus on football? I am just beyond words right now.

I miss my team, please someone let me know when they come back to reality.

In the age of American Idol and Survivor it shouldn’t come as a great shock that the Dallas Cowboys are getting in on the action. According to reports Michael Irvin has pitched an idea for a football based reality show that will have the winner taking the last spot on the 80-man roster heading into training camp.

Irvin:”I don’t know if you can walk upon any group of guys that wouldn’t say they dreamed of playing in the NFL when they were playing in their front yard. So we’re going to take a group of guys from their front yard, dwindle them to one and give that guy the opportunity of a lifetime.”

I don’t like it.

Everyone loves a “rags to riches” story. We all find ourselves rooting for the underdog. Who doesn’t watch the movie Rudy and feel a welling deep inside and a desire to chant “RUDY, RUDY!” Stories like that sell. No doubt about it. And the fact that it will sell is the real reason Jerry Jones gave the go ahead.  The show will air on Spike TV this summer.

I see it as yet another side show carnival distraction.

“I don’t see how you can make this a negative for the Dallas Cowboys,” Irvin said. “We all talk of doing good things for the community, for people, giving people opportunities. Jerry has stepped up and said, ‘OK, let’s do it.’ “

Of course he did. Jones loves money. The blue star we all revere so much has turned into a marketing logo. Like the golden arches of McDonalds or bold red logo of Coca Cola. This is more about the money and the exposure of the brand that is the Dallas Cowboys more than it will ever be about fulfilling some guy’s childhood dream of playing professional football.

Need more proof about Jones’ desire to generate revenue trumps his real desire to put a focused, disciplined championship caliber team on the field? The pimping out of Texas Stadium. From selling the endzones, swatches of the field’s turf and actual used stadium seats to selling “Farewell to Texas Stadium“ t-shirts, hats and coffee mugs, Jones has proven it’s all about the money. Not to mention the utter and complete distraction that was the Farewell to Texas Stadium Extravaganza scheduled immediately after a very important late season game against a stout Baltimore Ravens team. This event could have easily been scheduled for the next day but that wouldn’t have given his Cowboys maximum exposure. All about the money. Show me the money.

The HBO series Hard Knocks was a distraction for this football team. The show was very entertaining but was not in the best interest of this football team. I was as excited as anyone when it was announced that the Cowboys were back on board with Hard Knocks. But now I regret that it ever happened.

Stories like this compel me to believe that we are so far away from where we need to be.  It’s a bleak reminder of the day and age in which we live.

I’ll tune in to the latest Cowboys show just like everyone else. That’s what Jones and Irvin are banking on. Pun intended.

After reading Nate’s well researched and very informative post entitled “Drawing The Defensive Line For 2009“, I was compelled to write about one of the available free agents that he had listed.

One of the things that frustrated me most about the Cowboys in 2008, was how temperamental our defense seemed last season. One moment hot, the next cold… When the game started the defense would come out of the gate like gangbusters, but by the end of the fourth quarter the opposing team would eventually bust through them with little trouble, and score at will.

The other thing that frustrated the hell out of me was their toughness. When we played against the Eagles, Ravens and other solid defensive teams, I couldn’t help but notice how much harder their hits were, and how much more intense and meaner the other defenses were. Did you notice it too?

While I totally agree with Nate’s assessment as to what the team’s needs are, I happen to be one who strongly advocates a move to right end for defensive tackle, Jay Ratliff. I think it’s always a more successful move to go from tackle to end, rather than the other way around. Plus, Ratliff has exhibited the athleticism and burst that would make him as effective at right end, as he is at defensive tackle.

One of the reasons I would strongly consider such a move, is the availability of Pro Bowl DT, Albert Haynesworth. 

If there is a way to get Albert Haynesworth on this team, we should explore that option first and above all others. This guy has not even tapped his unlimited and vast potential yet, mainly because of a couple of nagging injuries the last two years. That said, he is still one of the most intimidating and ferocious tackles in the NFL.

In my opinion, which doesn’t really count for much, Haynesworth is one of the best tackles in the game, and STILL, he is improving and getting better each year.

I had no idea that he was a free agent, and I can’t help but wonder what the heck the Titans are thinking by letting him go.

He would quickly become a huge star on the Dallas Cowboys, maybe even eclipsing DeMarcus Ware as the team’s best defensive player. He’s that good.

He would make us tougher, and meaner, and fiercely motivated for ALL four quarters, and his penchant for playing all-out, balls to the wall, may rub off on the rest of the defense. There’s no letting up in the guy. He plays to win… He plays for blood…

I know some of you may still hold a grudge from when Haynesworth stepped on Gurode’s head a couple of seasons ago, but let’s move on already and not let that incident keep us from improving the team if we can.

Haynesworth is a playmaker. He will probably be one of the most sought after free agents in the NFL this off season. He has to be…  

Adding a guy like him to a defense that already includes superior players like DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff would clearly give the Cowboys the best defense in the NFC East, if not the entire conference.

The 2008 season saw a solid Cowboys defensive line anchored by the pro-bowl play of our nose tackle, Jay Ratliff. Jay, not known as a prototypical mammoth, run stuffing tackle, uses an approach not seen a lot in this league, but fits his size and strengths. Often stunting around the center and leaping on the quarterback is a sight we saw this year as our beer tipped over while jumping off our couches and screaming “Hell Yeah!”

His backup, Tank Johnson, had another semi-solid year, but saw not only his play, but his attitude, head south towards December. Tank was quoted as yelling “I’m a free-agent!” in the locker room after the embarrassing loss in Philly last December, effectively ending our playoff hopes and his career as a Dallas Cowboy. Hole #1 in our D-Line for ‘09.

At left end, Marcus Spears had another solid year. No gaudy stats. No amazing sacks (he had one this year), but remember what the job of a 3-4 defensive end is and you’ll have to appreciate player like Spears a lot more. He was drafted in ‘05 and in ‘09, will be playing for a new contract. His backup Jason Hatcher filled in nicely for Spears and also registered a sack this year. I like this position as it is on the D-line and hope it stays this way for a long time.

On the other side, Chris Canty started at right end for his third consecutive year. He posted a career high 5 passes defended. Canty is now an unrestricted free agent and will likely be too rich for our blood to keep around. Hole #2 in our D-Line for ‘09. Stephen Bowen continued to improve as Canty’s backup, but shouldnt be counted on as a starter.

One idea that many fans are throwing around is to utilize Ratliff’s strengths and move him to right end. I am not a fan of this move. Moving a pro-bowl player to another position that he could possibly struggle at and creating a HUGE void at arguably the most important position on a 3-4 defensive line is not my idea of a smart move. Though J-Ratt is not your conventional 3-4 nose tackle, he is a VERY effective one. Don’t fix what aint broke!

So with the void at backup nose tackle and starting right end, this puts an immediate priority on the D-line.

My top 10 positions of need in the draft as of today are:

1. Right Defensive End
2. Weak Inside Linebacker
3. Free Safety
4. Nose Tackle
5. Corner Back
6. Quarterback
7. Center
8. Guard
9. Offensive Tackle
10. Outside Linebacker

I’ll explain my reasoning for this draft order in a future post. Right now, let’s list available free agent tackles. I won’t bother listing ends, since we likely wont be looking for a starter in free agency after letting our own go.

Kenderick Allen      UFA Vikings
Jonathan Babineaux   UFA Falcons
Rocky Bernard        UFA Seahawks
Shaun Cody           UFA Lions
Colin Cole           UFA Packers
Damane Duckett       UFA 49ers
Dwan Edwards         UFA Ravens
Fred Evans           RFA Vikings
Gary Gibson          RFA Panthers
La’Roi Glover        UFA Rams
Kedric Golston       RFA Redskins
Howard Green         UFA Seahawks
Jovan Haye           UFA Buccaneers
Albert Haynesworth   UFA Titans
Grady Jackson        UFA Falcons
Jason Jefferson      UFA Falcons
Tank Johnson         UFA Cowboys
William Joseph       UFA Raiders
Jimmy Kennedy        UFA Jaguars
Antwan Lake          UFA Saints
Brandon McKinney     RFA Ravens
Anthony Montgomery   RFA Redskins
Kenny Peterson       UFA Broncos
James Reed           UFA Saints
Darrell Reid         UFA Colts
Ryan Sims            UFA Buccaneers
Kenny Smith          UFA Patriots
Montavious Stanley   RFA Saints
John Thornton        UFA Bengals
Kevin Vickerson      RFA Titans
Darwin Walker        UFA Panthers
Gabe Watson          RFA Cardinals
Mike Wright          UFA Patriots
Ellis Wyms           UFA Vikings
Jeff Zgonina         UFA Texans

And now a slim list of quality 3-4 Defensive Ends entering the 2009 NFL Draft: (keep in mind the difference in weight between a 3-4 and a 4-3 end and also our draft positions)

Tyson Jackson, LSU
Height: 6-5. Weight: 292.
Projected 40 Time: 4.85.
Projected Round (2009): 2.
11/16/08: Tyson Jackson has 4.5 sacks this year, but he won’t provide much of a pass rush in the NFL. He’ll be great against the run.
5/7/08: Still the best 4-3 left end or 3-4 end available in this class.
2007: Tyson Jackson has announced that he’ll be returning for his senior season.
Pretty much the same build as Adam Carriker, only with a much faster Projected 40 Time. Will play up front in the 4-3 or 3-4. Notched 8.5 sacks in 2006.

Robert Ayers, Tennessee
Height: 6-3. Weight: 273.
Projected 40 Time: 4.73.
Projected Round (2009): 4.
1/9/09: Robert Ayers had a monstrous senior campaign and was consequently named to the All-SEc First Team. Ayers collected just three sacks, but had 15.5 TFL.

Derek Walker, Illinois
Height: 6-4. Weight: 272.
Projected 40 Time: 4.74.
Projected Round (2009): 4-5.
11/16/08: Derek Walker has six sacks this season – impressive, considering he’ll be a left end in the NFL.
2007: Derek Walker has a habit of getting to the quarterback, but he also missed some action in 2006 with an ankle injury.

Pannel Egboh, Stanford
Height: 6-6. Weight: 280.
Projected 40 Time: 4.82.
Projected Round (2009): 5.
1/9/09: Pannel Egboh had 4.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks in 12 games as a senior. A sprained knee in the middle of the season limited his production.
5/7/08: A potential left end or a 3-4 lineman at the next level, Pannel Egboh had six sacks in 2007. More impressively, he has 24 consecutive starts as of this writing.

Mitch King, Iowa
Height: 6-1. Weight: 275.
Projected 40 Time: 4.72.
Projected Round (2009): 5.
1/9/09: Mitch King’s 15.5 TFL were pretty impressive. He had 54 tackles and two sacks on the year.
11/16/08: Should be a solid 3-4 reserve in the NFL for a number of years.
5/7/08: Mitch King had 4.5 sacks in 2007, and is looking like a solid, mid-round defensive end in the 2009 Draft.

Player info copied from walterfootball.com/

As you can see, there aren’t a lot of candidates for a starting position in the NFL. Not right away, anyway. Tyson Jackson, to me, makes the most sense.

I’ve got a few other positions I want to talk about before putting all of this info together for an off-season gameplan.

Next up: Cornerback

December 26, 2008

“The coaches are in place. I’ve said that. How can I be any clearer?” Jones said. “Look, I’ve said that our coaching staff, as far as I’m concerned, is in place. I just want to make the statement rather than answer questions, because your questions imply certain things that I don’t want to imply.

“I’m saying that when I look at where we are coaching staff-wise and when I look at where we are personnel-wise, I see a team that is in place to compete for several years.”

Wow. That was my initial reaction to the statement by Jerry Jones the day after Christmas.  Maybe Jerry Jones has such confidence in his staff that, regardless of the outcome against Philadelphia in the regular season finale, that he will stick his neck out and proclaim “no changes”. How many of us cringed when we saw that footage? But hey, if Jerry says it’s so we have to go along with it. After all, he’s brought 3 Lombardi Trophies to Dallas in the last 19 years. Who are we to question Mr. Jones? He obviously knows what he’s talking about. Right?

December 30, 2008

Dallas fires Special Teams coach Bruce Read. Any Cowboys fan I’ve talked to said this was the right move after Read’s disastrous season in 2008.  Now this wasn’t a shock. Let me rephrase that. It wouldn’t have been a shock had Jones’ vehement proclamation just 4 days earlier not been uttered. Surely that will be the only change. Right?

January 16, 2009

Dallas fires defensive coordinator Brian Stewart. Now this one is a tough call in my opinion. It was reported that late in the season Wade Phillips took over the reigns of the defense and, as a result, the defense began playing at a much higher level. No doubt the defense came alive late in the season. Apparently Stewart was just standing on the sidelines with his headset turned off? Maybe he was listening to Brad Sham and Babe Laufenberg calling the games each week? Sorry, I got sidetracked.

My point is if the staff is in place why was Stewart fired? Why was Read fired? Why is Jerry Jones’ favorite phrase as of late “no comment” in regards to the newly unemployed staff that is now “in place” at the employment office. The personnel  is also in place. But when asked about the future of Terrell Owens again we get a big fat “no comment”. 

In early December, after the loss to Pittsburgh, Jerry Jones questioned the toughness of Marion Barber. That was just stupid. Period.

What really happened this season is Jerry Jones continually put his foot in his mouth. He made comments that bit him on the ass so now he’s making no comment at all. It is a fresh approach I’ll give him that much. The guy hasn’t been this quiet since he bought the team back in 1989. I find it very refreshing. My dream is that someday soon  Mr. Jones will wake up one morning and realize his team needs a new GM. But until then, at least as far as JJ is concerned, no news is definitely good news.